Abstract
Certain perceptual measures have been proposed as indirect assays of brain neurochemical status in people with migraine. One such measure is binocular rivalry, however, previous studies have not measured rivalry characteristics and brain neurochemistry together in people with migraine. This study compared spectroscopy-measured levels of GABA and Glx (glutamine and glutamate complex) in visual cortex between 16 people with migraine and 16 non-headache controls, and assessed whether the concentration of these neurochemicals explains, at least partially, inter-individual variability in binocular rivalry perceptual measures. Mean Glx level was significantly reduced in migraineurs relative to controls, whereas mean occipital GABA levels were similar between groups. Neither GABA levels, nor Glx levels correlated with rivalry percept duration. Our results thus suggest that the previously suggested relationship between rivalry percept duration and GABAergic inhibitory neurotransmitter concentration in visual cortex is not strong enough to enable rivalry percept duration to be reliably assumed to be a surrogate for GABA concentration, at least in the context of healthy individuals and those that experience migraine.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | e0208666 |
| Journal | PLoS One |
| Volume | 14 |
| Issue number | 7 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 10 Jul 2019 |
Fingerprint
Cite this
}
Relating excitatory and inhibitory neurochemicals to visual perception : A magnetic resonance study of occipital cortex between migraine events. / Chan, Yu Man; Pitchaimuthu, Kabilan; Wu, Qi Zhu; Carter, Olivia L.; Egan, Gary F.; Badcock, David R.; McKendrick, Allison M.
In: PLoS One, Vol. 14, No. 7, e0208666, 10.07.2019.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Relating excitatory and inhibitory neurochemicals to visual perception
T2 - A magnetic resonance study of occipital cortex between migraine events
AU - Chan, Yu Man
AU - Pitchaimuthu, Kabilan
AU - Wu, Qi Zhu
AU - Carter, Olivia L.
AU - Egan, Gary F.
AU - Badcock, David R.
AU - McKendrick, Allison M.
PY - 2019/7/10
Y1 - 2019/7/10
N2 - Certain perceptual measures have been proposed as indirect assays of brain neurochemical status in people with migraine. One such measure is binocular rivalry, however, previous studies have not measured rivalry characteristics and brain neurochemistry together in people with migraine. This study compared spectroscopy-measured levels of GABA and Glx (glutamine and glutamate complex) in visual cortex between 16 people with migraine and 16 non-headache controls, and assessed whether the concentration of these neurochemicals explains, at least partially, inter-individual variability in binocular rivalry perceptual measures. Mean Glx level was significantly reduced in migraineurs relative to controls, whereas mean occipital GABA levels were similar between groups. Neither GABA levels, nor Glx levels correlated with rivalry percept duration. Our results thus suggest that the previously suggested relationship between rivalry percept duration and GABAergic inhibitory neurotransmitter concentration in visual cortex is not strong enough to enable rivalry percept duration to be reliably assumed to be a surrogate for GABA concentration, at least in the context of healthy individuals and those that experience migraine.
AB - Certain perceptual measures have been proposed as indirect assays of brain neurochemical status in people with migraine. One such measure is binocular rivalry, however, previous studies have not measured rivalry characteristics and brain neurochemistry together in people with migraine. This study compared spectroscopy-measured levels of GABA and Glx (glutamine and glutamate complex) in visual cortex between 16 people with migraine and 16 non-headache controls, and assessed whether the concentration of these neurochemicals explains, at least partially, inter-individual variability in binocular rivalry perceptual measures. Mean Glx level was significantly reduced in migraineurs relative to controls, whereas mean occipital GABA levels were similar between groups. Neither GABA levels, nor Glx levels correlated with rivalry percept duration. Our results thus suggest that the previously suggested relationship between rivalry percept duration and GABAergic inhibitory neurotransmitter concentration in visual cortex is not strong enough to enable rivalry percept duration to be reliably assumed to be a surrogate for GABA concentration, at least in the context of healthy individuals and those that experience migraine.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85069618877&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1371/journal.pone.0208666
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0208666
M3 - Article
VL - 14
JO - P L o S One
JF - P L o S One
SN - 1932-6203
IS - 7
M1 - e0208666
ER -